Ruth Chepngetich broke the world record to win the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, becoming the first woman to run a marathon in under two hours and 10 minutes.
The 30-year-old Kenyan and 2019 world marathon champion clocked a time of two hours, nine minutes and 57 seconds to surpass Ethiopian Tigst Assefa’s previous record by almost two minutes.
Assefa’s previous record of two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds was set at the Berlin Marathon in September 2023.
It was also Chepngetich’s third victory at the Chicago Marathon, as she chopped four minutes off her previous best of 2:14:18, set in her 2022 win.
“I feel so great, I’m proud of myself. This is my dream that has come true. I’ve fought a lot thinking about the world record and I have fulfilled it,” Chepngetich said after the race, per the BBC.
Sutume Kebede of Ethiopia crossed the line seven minutes and 36 seconds later while Kenya’s Irine Cheptai clocked 2:17:51 to place third.
In the men’s race, Kenyan John Koriri claimed victory in 2:02:43 – the second-fastest ever time in Chicago, behind Kiptum’s world record of 2:00:35 last year.
Ethiopia’s Huseydin Mohamed Esa finished in second, just over two minutes behind Koriri, and Kenyan Amos Kipruto took third place with a time of 2:04:50.
